Electric wire and wire termination assembly

ABSTRACT

A block of electrically conductive metal has a generally rectangular cross section for reception within a spring jaw terminal clip of a molded case electric circuit breaker. The block has an opening therein, and a bared end portion of a wire is received in the opening and mechanically secured therein in electrically conductive relation to the block by crimping and soldering operations.

United States Patent 11 1 Kennedy 1 ELECTRIC WIRE AND WIRE TERMINATION ASSEMBLY [75] Inventor: Richard Thomas Kennedy, Oak

Lawn. 111.

I73] Assignee: Bell Electric Company, Chicago. 111

[22] Filed: Nov. 5, 1973 [21] Appl. No: 413,129

[52] U.S. Cl 339/147 R, 339/276 T, 339/275 T [51] Int. Cl I-I0lr 11/08 [58] Field of Search 339/112, 147, 198 242 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3/1942 Andrcn ct lll. 339/276 T 3/1961) Brumficltl 339/198 N 14 1 Apr. 1, 1975 33511704 11/1967 Sitzler 339/275 T X 3.353.142 11/1967 Spencer i i 339/258 F X 3.461221 8/1969 Herb 339/276 R X Primary E.taminerRichard E. Moore Attorney. Agent. or FirmH. .1. Rathbun; E. S. Kettelson; P. .1. Rose [57] ABSTRACT A block of electrically conductive metal has a generally rectangular cross section for reception within a spring jaw terminal clip of a molded case electric circuit breaker. The block has an opening therein, and a bared end portion of a wire is received in the opening and mechanically secured therein in electrically conductive relation to the block by crimping and so1dering operations.

5 Claims. 4 Drawing Figures ELECTRIC WIRE AND WIRE TERMINATION ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Molded case circuit breakers rated at and amperes at l l0/220 volts are most often mounted in panelboards that are used to protect branch circuits in homes and small commercial buildings. Such circuit breakers are mass produced for installation in panelboards and most commonly are connected at a line side to a power source by means of a spring jaw terminal clip which is plugged onto bus bars or bus bar extensions of the panelboard.

A modified form of such circuit breaker is used for the more limited so-called unit mounted type of installation where a panelboard with its bus bars and bus bar extensions is not used. The modified circuit breaker has mounted plates connected selectively to its front or rear portion and screw type connectors are provided for both the line and load side connections. Since this type of installation is less common. the modified circuit breakers are manufactured in limited quantities and are thus more expensive.

A need exists for a wire and wire termination assembly which can be used to connect the spring jaw terminal clip of the mass produced circuit breaker to be used in the unit mounted type of installation. The case of a mass-produced circuit breaker can be held rigidly in any suitable mounting thus eliminating the necessity of the mounting plates. and the screw type connector at the line side is rendered unnecessary by the electrical connection provided by the interconnection of the wire and wire termination assembly of this invention and the springjaw terminal clip. Because the unit mounted type of installation provides a limited market, the adaption of the mass produced circuit breaker to that type of installation is desirable from an economic standpoint.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An improved wire and wire termination assembly in accordance with this invention comprises a block of conducting metal in the form ofa six sided rectangular parallelepiped. The block has an opening extending there through closely adjacent one side face, and a bare end portion of an insulated wire is received in the opening. The one side face of the block is crimped, and the block is heated drawing solder inwardly of the opening thus mechanically securing the wire to the block in good electrical conductive relation thereto. The block is sized for reception within the spring jaw terminal clip of a molded case circuit breaker designed for panelboard mounting.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved wire and wire termination assembly useable for connecting a power source to a springjaw terminal clip of a molded case circuit breaker.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description wherein reference is made to the drawings. in which:

FIG. I is a view ofa molded case circuit breaker with a portion of the case broken away and showing a wire and wire termination assembly in accordance with this invention disposed within a spring jaw terminal clip of the circuit breaker;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the spring jaw terminal clip and wire termination assembly and circuit breaker combination of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the wire and wire termination assembly of FIGS. 1 and 2; and

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the wire and wire termination assembly of FIGS. 1 and 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A circuit breaker identified as 9 in FIG. I has a molded plastic case 10, a spring jaw clip I2, which may be non-conductive and used to assist in holding the circuit breaker in a mounted position, and a conductive spring jaw terminal clip 14 disposed within a rectangular recess 15 formed in a lower wall of the case 10 and electrically connected to a stationary contact (not shown) of the circuit breaker. The circuit breaker 9 generally correspond to the circuit breaker disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,l34,05l issued May 19, 1964, and is of a type mass-produced for use in panelboards.

The wire and wire termination assembly 16 in accordance with this invention comprises an insulated wire 18 having a stripped end portion mechanically and electrically connected to a conductive block 20.

As shown in the drawings, the block 20 is in the form of a six sided rectangular parallelepiped and may be cut from copper or brass bar stock or suitably formed from powdered metal to have a low resistance. A hole 24 is provided through the block 20 intersecting opposing end faces 25, closely adjacent to a side face 26, and parallel to opposed side faces 27. The stripped end portion of the wire 18, which is preferably a stranded wire, is received in the opening 24 with its end face extending slightly beyond the block at the opposite end of the opening 24. The opening 24 is just slightly larger than the wire 18 so that the wire fits the opening snugly.

The block is then deformed either manually or with a machine from the side face 26 by two spaced indentations 28 which within the opening 24 constitute spaced protrusions which mechanically secure the wire 18 in the opening 24 and provide for good electrically conductivity between the wire 18 and the block 20. To insure further mechanical connection between the block 20 and the wire 18 and to provide improved electrical conductivity between the block and the wire, the block 20 and the end of the wire 18 are heated and solder is then applied to a forward end 30 of the opening 24. The solder is drawn inwardly into the opening 24 and upon cooling provides a rigid connection of low resistance between the surface of the wire 18 and the internal surface of the opening 24.

The circuit breaker 9 may be mounted on a machine or in a junction box not having bus bars in any suitable manner with the spring jaw terminal clip 14 being exposed. The block 20 is partially disposed within the recess l5 and snugly received by the spring jaw terminal clip 14. Gap 32 exist between the respective end faces 25 of the block 20 and two walls of the recess 15. The block 20 may only be removed by grasping the end faces 25 with a tool such as long nose pliers and pulling outwardly from the clip 14. Pulling the wire 18 will not dislodge the block 20 because the block will slide or pivot within the clip 14 and the end faces 25 of the block 20 will abut the walls of the recess 15 thus confining the block 20 within the clip I4.

After the block 20 has been secured within the spring jaw terminal clip 14, the wire 18 extending from the blcok 20 is then connected to a power source thereby to complete the line side connections to the circuit breaker 9.

Thus it is apparent that there has been provided, in accordance with the invention, an electric wire and wire termination assembly that fully satisfies the objects, aims, and advantages set forth above. While the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications. and variations as fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An electric wire, wire termination, and circuit breaker assembly comprising a molded case circuit breaker containaing a bus bar. a spring jaw terminal clip attached to the bus bar and extending outwardly from one wall of the circuit breaker, a recess in the case of the circuit breaker surrounding the jaw, a block of conducting metal received within the jaw and partially received within the recess, an opening extending into the block disposed between two side walls of the block LII and closely adjacent a third wall facing outwardly from the jaw, a bared end portion of a wire extending into the opening, and at least one indentation in the third side wall providing a protrusion extending into the opening and in interferring relation to the end portion of the wire.

2. An electric wire, wire termination and circuit breaker assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said block of conducting metal is in the form of a six sided rectangular parallelepiped.

3. An electric wire, wire termination and circuit breaker assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said wire is additionally secured within said opening by so] der.

4. An electric wire, wire termination and circuit breaker assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said opening extends through said block and the end portion of said wire extends completely through said opening.

5. An electric wire, wire termination and circuit breaker assembly as set forth in claim 1, including a plurality of indentations in said third side wall providing protrusions extending into the opening and in interfering relation to the end portion of said wire. 

1. An electric wire, wire termination, and circuit breaker assembly comprising a molded case circuit breaker containaing a bus bar, a spring jaw terminal clip attached to the bus bar and extending outwardly from one wall of the circuit breaker, a recess in the case of the circuit breaker surrounding the jaw, a block of conducting metal received within the jaw and partially received within the recess, an opening extending into the block disposed between two side walls of the block and closely adjacent a third wall facing outwardly from the jaw, a bared end portion of a wire extending into the opening, and at least one indentation in the third side wall providing a protrusion extending into the opening and in interferring relation to the end portion of the wire.
 2. An electric wire, wire termination and circuit breaker assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said block of conducting metal is in the form of a six sided rectangular parallelepiped.
 3. An electric wire, wire termination and circuit breaker assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said wire is additionally secured within said opening by solder.
 4. An electric wire, wire termination and circuit breaker assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said opening extends through said block and the end portion of said wire extends completely through said opening.
 5. An electric wire, wire termination and circuit breaker assembly as set forth in claim 1, including a plurality of indentations in said third side wall providing protrusions extending into the opening and in interfering relation to the end portion of said wire. 